Process for peeling fruits



- Pmmaum 23, 1929.

No Drawing.

invention relates to a process for prernocnss Eon rnnnme Fnurrs.

Application filed June 14, 1926. Serial No. 116,030.

3 other fruits which are not successfully peeled lye peeling process.

5 by other known methods.

. The object I have accomplished is the dis covery and invention of a grapes, plums, prunes an s which the skins adhere closely'to the pulp, such process leaving the peeled fruit smooth,

.soda. or lye until the skins have been loosened from the fruits, after which the skin is readily This process fails with 'fruits which have a hard, dense or tight stickingskin, which is cracked into checks by the action of the lye, the l c then eatin deeply 1nto the pulp through t e cracks be ore theskin '25 bounded by the checks is loosened or dissolved. In my process the fruits are firstdipped into hot water, or into a weak solution of hotwater and caustic soda (the strength of the caustic soda should be three per cent or less), or hot water andcarbonate of soda,or* a I neutral or acid sulphite of soda solution.-

The carbonate of soda and the sulphite of soda solution can be as strong as ten per cent,-

although the nature of thefi'uit generally demands a much weaker solution. These'solutions must not be strong enough to check, or

to crack the skin. In some casesit is prefersolution and then redip it in a neutral or acid 40 sulphite of soda-solution. The temperature required is from 170.F. to 212 F. or higher, it will be uniformly acted upon by the lye S g 7 cook the pulp.

accordingto the nature and condition 0 .the finq l ti fruit. The timemequired in this dipping is Th f it th prepare relatively short, varying from one minute to 4 oneand one-half minutes so that the cooking or scaldingwill be limited tof the surface or skin of the'fr'uit. The higher the temperature of the solution used," theishorter the time required for dipping the fruit thereig: Where ning water to'remove all lye, and shreds of a h her tem erature than 212 F.'-is required, suIp ate of soda may be added 'to the solution to raise its boiling point.

eckingrw i UNITED STATES Trn'lula'r .OFFICE.

orro .1. STEINWAND, or SELMA, CALIFORNIA, Assmnon To run RUBYETTE 00., or

sAN- FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A oonrom'rroiw or canmonma;

If the fruit is of such kind and texture as process for peeling to require sulph'uring, it can now be done-by slmllar fruits 1n any of'the usual methods. The fruitfis-then wilted or partially dried by placing it in the sun or 1n any suitable dehydrating means or plump and well appearing. Otherob ects processtoslacken the'skin which will prevent will hereinafter appear. Such peeling is desirable preliminary to canning,.glacing, preservingor drying the fruit. In peeling fruits, 15 such as peaches, in which the skin is readily loosened, it has'hereto'fore been the practice d is then dipped into a substantially boiling'solution of from "one half percent to ten percent oi caustic soda for a time varying from 15 seconds to 3 minutes, 100 according to the kind and condition of the fruit. The fruit is then washed in'cold runh porous so that it-will uniformly dissolve by paring frults, and more particularly to a procthe action of 1 e, and come off evenly without ess for peeling. grapes, plums, prunes and 'crackingor ch hen: subjected to the a his dipping should not cracking and splitting of the skin when in the lye .or peeling solution, )and;also to concentrate the sweet juices of the fruit to case harden t to such a degree that the pulp di- I rectly under -the skin will resist the aetion'of to dip the fru tin a hot solution of caust c lye. The term case harden as used above .is intended to mean a condition of the fruit wherein the surface of the pulp beneath the skin 1s slightly dried so that a concentration of sugar will be present which will form whatmight beitermed a casing of sugar thereabout. There is no exact method whereby the time required for this operation can be determined encept. by ex 'e'riment. When properly carr1ed out, the ruit after being peeled will appear full nd smooth, which condition will indicate t at the lye has not attacked the pulp, the presumption in this case being that the casing was suflicient to prevent such ac tion. On the other hand, should this step be improperly carried out and the casing insuflicient to protect the pulp, it will be found to be flayed and ragged in appearance, indicatingthat the l e has attacked the pulp. In some cases the ruit is placed in condition f0r,peel.- 0 ing after the first dipping above referred to, able to dip the fruit nto a weak caust c soda/ and Without, th wilting or drying. The entire objectto be accomplished by this first step in the processis to get the skin in co'nditionso skin, and-can then be soaked in water or Weak syrup until plumped to full size.

The lye solution can be sprayed on the The object of the first dipping is to scaldo'r' fruit, or the fruit may be dipped intoa vessel -1 cook the skin, and to soften it and render it containing the mixture.

2. A process or peeling fruits consisting of immersing the fruit in a hot weak solution of water'and soda, then drying the fruit, then placing it inv a bath of lye and Water, and thereafter Washing the lye therefrom.

3. A process for peeling fruits consistingof softening the skin of the fruit, then wilting it, and then dissolving the skin by applying lye thereto.

'4. A process for preparing fruits to be peeled by the application of a lye solution,'

consisting of softening the skin and wilting thev fruit prior to application of the lye solution. v

5. A process for peeling fruits having tough skins, such as grapes and plums, consisting of scalding the skins of the fruit until the skins thereon are softened and porous, then permittin the fruit to Wilt and then subjecting the s (ins to the action of lye.

6. A process for peeling fruits having tough skins' such as grapes and plums,' consisting of softening theskins in a Weak alkali solution, wilting the fruit to concentrate the sugars thereof at the surface and loosen the skin thereof, and finally dipping the fruit in a strong alkali solution at a substantially boiling temperature after which the skins and solution are washed therefrom.

- i OTTO J. STEINWAND. Q 

